Despite spending his childhood around the paddock with his father - 1982 world champion Keke - Nico Rosberg was never guaranteed a future in F1. Brought up in Monaco, he was encouraged to pursue other hobbies, and even considered becoming a professional tennis player.

He started karting at the age of 11 and in 2002 he moved up to German Formula BMW, winning the title in his first season with nine victories. At 17 he became the youngest person to drive an F1 car when he was given a test with Williams, and he never looked back. Driving for his father's team, Team Rosberg, he graduated to Formula 3. In 2005 he was offered a place at Imperial College in London to read for a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, but decided pursue a career in racing.

His gamble paid off and that year he moved into the GP2 series with ART racing, winning the championship in his rookie year by beating rival Heikki Kovalainen by 15 points. Such an impressive display earned him a seat with Williams for the 2006 season alongside Mark Webber.

His debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix was impressive. After an early collision with Nick Heidfeld, which saw him slip to the back of the field, he recovered to secure his first points by finishing seventh. In the process, he also became the youngest driver ever to record a fastest lap. In his second race he qualified third, only to bow out on the third lap with engine failure. He ended his rookie season in 17th, with four points.

In 2007 Rosberg improved on his debut season with 20 points, enough for ninth in the drivers' standings. His best result came in Brazil at the final race of the season, where he finished fourth. He had to wait until the following year, however, to secure his first podium finish. At the opening race of the 2008 season he took third but bettered it in Singapore with a second place finish behind Fernando Alonso. However, mixed results throughout the year meant he completed the season down in 13th.

His progress continued into 2009 and it soon became clear that his talent was not being matched by the Williams he was driving. The new Mercedes team quickly recognised this and snapped him up as a driver for 2010, leading to three podium finishes over the course of the season as he comprehensively outperformed team-mate Michael Schumacher.

Unfortunately, the progress didn't continue the following year as 2011 passed without a single podium finish. 2012 was a different story and at the third race of the season Rosberg won the Chinese Grand Prix to give Mercedes its first victory as a constructor since 1955. Impressive performances followed, including second at Monaco, but the car's pace dropped off almost as quickly as it had emerged and he failed to score a single point at the final six races of the season.

After three years beating Schumacher he was faced with Lewis Hamilton as a team-mate in 2013, and the early signs were ominous as Mercedes told Rosberg to hold station behind his team-mate in Malaysia. He soon responded though with three consecutive pole positions and victory in Monaco, following that with a second win in three races at Silverstone.

The season petered out with only two podiums after that high point, but Mercedes entered the new V6 turbo era the following year as clear favourites after producing a dominant car and engine. Mercedes' position was so strong it soon became clear the title fight would be between Rosberg and Hamilton.

Rosberg exceeded expectations in 2014, especially on Saturdays; beating Hamilton to pole position enough to win the inaugural FIA Pole Trophy. But too often his team-mate was on another level on race day, though Rosberg's five victories kept him in title contention until the final race of the season. The season was marred by controversial moments such as Rosberg's stoppage during qualifying in Monaco - which some saw as intentional - and his collision with Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix (which earned Rosberg a reprimand from Mercedes at the height of the championship fight).

Rosberg started 2015 on the back foot in his battle with Hamilton and failed to fully recover until the final three rounds, by which point his team-mate had secured the title. His current Mercedes contract runs until the end of 2016.

Strengths and WeaknessesRosberg is clearly quick, but next to Lewis Hamilton he has not been quick enough. His hard work and dedication analysing data has not yet paid off, although at times he has been able to think his way to victory over his team-mate.

Career High Taking his debut victory at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix with a dominant victory over the rest of the field.

Career LowHis clumsy manoeuvre on Lewis Hamilton at Spa on the second lap of the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix. The subsequent collision gave Hamilton a puncture and ended his race, while Rosberg went on to finish second - where he was booed on the podium. The moment also decisively swung the championship momentum back in Hamilton's favour as he won the next five races on the trot.

Quotes"Generally it is just annoying. I know that I am very lucky to have a father like that and it has helped my career but in the end you are the one who is racing and results are yours." Rosberg on being compared to his father, Keke.

"He is the most exciting driver on the track. He digs himself out of some holes that we put him in sometimes - comes by three places up at the end of the first lap. He is single-minded, chirpy, a little arrogant which is good - he is always very good with the promo people, never an objection, he is very good." Williams team principal Frank Williams.

TriviaAlthough his father, former F1 champion Keke Rosberg, is Finnish, Nico, whose mother is German, races under the German flag. He speaks fluent German, English, Italian and French, but does not speak Finnish.